Compare towns
Marshfield vs Exeter vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Marshfield | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863 |
16,151Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,313±$10kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$37kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$126 7% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,668Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.